Fender Duo-Sonic

The Fender Duo-Sonic is an electric guitar launched by Fender Musical Instruments Corporation as a student model guitar, an inexpensive model aimed at amateur musicians. It was referred to as a "3/4 size" Fender guitar.

Fender Duo-Sonic
Duo-Sonic II
ManufacturerFender
Period1956–1969, 1993–1999, 2008–2011, 2016-Present
Construction
Body typeSolid
Neck jointBolt-on
Scale22.5" or 24"
Woods
BodyAsh, Alder or Basswood
NeckMaple
FretboardMaple or Rosewood
Hardware
Bridgefixed
Pickup(s)2 "vintage style" single coil
Colors available
Desert Sand, Sunburst (sometimes called maroonburst), Sonic Blue, Dakota Red, Black, Torino Red, Arctic White, Capri Orange

The original "Duo-Sonic" features two single-coil pickups and a vertical switch on the lower horn of the body to select bridge, neck or both pickups in a humbucking style configuration (as opposed to the blade switch more common on Fender guitars). The Duo-Sonic features typical Fender construction techniques with a bolt-on maple neck, attached to a solid body. The bridge is fixed and the line has a shorter scale neck than standard models as a concession to younger, beginner guitarists and other players with smaller hands.

History

Original design (1956–1959)
Squier classic vibe Duo-Sonic, it copies the appearance of the first generation of Fender Duo-Sonic

The Fender Duo-Sonic was introduced in 1956. Like the Musicmaster introduced a few months earlier, it featured basic but effective construction and a 22.5 inch scale length (standard Fender guitars feature a 25.5 inch scale) and cost $149.50. The original model was only available in a light tan color called Desert Sand and had a maple fingerboard with 21 frets and a neck with a soft-V profile. The original model Duo-Sonics also sport a gold-colored, anodized pickguard that helps in screening the single-coil pickups and electronics from interference.[1]

Second version (1959–1964)

In 1959 the Duo-Sonic went through a face lift. The most significant change was a switch from a maple fingerboard to a rosewood one in keeping with changes to other Fender models at this time. These fretboards were originally in the slab-style but switched to the veneer style after approximately a year. The other significant change was a switch from anodized aluminum to plastic pickguards.

Third version – Duo-Sonic II (1964–1968)

In 1964 the Duo-Sonic was redesigned based on the Fender Mustang that had recently been added to the student model line but without the vibrato tail-piece. The student guitars now all featured larger and slightly offset bodies, necks with larger headstocks and rosewood fingerboards and plastic pickguards with the volume and tone controls mounted on a separate metal plate. Pickup selection was moved above the pickups on both the Duo-Sonic and the Mustang and utilized two 3-position on-off-on switches that allowed for in and out-of-phase sounds. The pickups were also reverse-wound/reverse-polarity, which made them into a functional humbucker when both pickups were used simultaneously. Also added in this redesign was the option of a 24-inch scale neck in addition to the 22.5 inch scale. This re-designed model was renamed Duo-Sonic II although decals with and without the II designation were used occasionally. In addition to white, Daphne Blue and Dakota Red colors added.[2]

The Duo-Sonic lasted until 1969 when it was dropped most likely because the Mustang with its tremolo tail piece was far more popular.

The Duo-Sonic I and II are both considered rare and have displayed growing collector value. The Duo-Sonic II in particular is often seen as a desirable alternative to the more popular Mustang, since it lacks the difficult-to-maintain tremolo bridge.

Reissues
1993 re-issue Duo-Sonic, made in Mexico

In 1993 Fender released a Mexican-made reissue Duo-Sonic in a 22.7" scale. It was available in Black, Torino Red and Arctic White. It was dropped from the Fender line in 1997 but was then launched again as a Chinese made Squier Affinity model in 1998 only to be dropped in 1999.

The Duo-Sonic was re-released by Fender's Squier brand in the 'Classic Vibe' series of guitars from 2008 to 2011. It was intended to be closely modeled on the original guitar released in the 1950s and looked very similar, with a maple fretboard, gold anodized pickguard and 'Desert Sand' finish. The new model differed from the original version of the Duo-Sonic in a number of ways: basswood was used for the body, the neck differed in being C-shaped and a 24" scale length, and was fitted with more modern 'medium jumbo' frets; finally, the treble pickup was located 3/4" further from the bridge.

In 2016 Fender re-introduced the Duo-Sonic in two forms: the Duo-Sonic MN (two single coil pickups - in Arctic White, Torino Red and Capri Orange) and the Duo-Sonic HS (a single coil neck and a tappable humbucker bridge pickup - in Daphne Blue, Black and Surf Green), both equipped with a 24” scale length “C”-shaped neck. They have a string-through-body hardtail 'Strat' bridge, with vintage-like bent-steel saddles. These guitars, and a re-introduced 'Mustang' range, form the 'Offset Series' and are made in Mexico. The bodies are alder and the necks maple, with maple or rosewood fretboards.[3]

Notable Duo Sonic players
David Byrne in 1978, playing his white Duo-Sonic II onstage with Talking Heads.
gollark: It works if they're *identical* and know they'll both make the same decision.
gollark: Taking one box is also rational because if you do you get 1 million and if you don't you get 10000.
gollark: Predicting which box I'll take effectively means running a high accuracy simulation of me. Thus, since I may be being simulated when I choose, my choice does affect the (eventual) box content, thus take one box.
gollark: No. I've thought about this.
gollark: Oh, lyric, heard of Newcomb's paradox?

See also

References
  1. Guitarist (Jan. 2017) issue 415, p. 96, Future Publishing Ltd., Bath UK
  2. Guitarist (Jan. 2017) issue 415, p. 96, Future Publishing Ltd., Bath UK
  3. Guitarist (Jan. 2017) issue 415, pp. 90-95, Future Publishing Ltd., Bath UK
  4. Walker, Gary (9 October 2015). "Ones To Watch: Alvvays". Guitar Magazine. Retrieved 21 February 2018.

Bibliography
  • "Fender's 3/4 Scale Guitars," a two-part article by Tim Pershing in 20th Century Guitar magazine, December 1996 and January 1997.
  • "Little Brothers Turn 50," an article by Terry Foster and Tim Pershing in Vintage Guitar magazine, July 2006
  • Fender: The Golden Age, 1946–1970, by Martin Kelly, Terry Foster, Paul Kelly. London & New York: Cassell ISBN 1-84403-666-9
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